We all know we should become more energy efficient. This lowers costs and has a tremendous positive impact on the environment. Regardless of your reason, buying a newly built Energy Star qualified new home helps guarantee great energy efficiency.

What exactly is an Energy Star new home? Is all new construction “green” and good for the planet? How do I know whether the home that I’m purchaseing is truly energy efficient?

The U.S. government has laid out requirements as to what qualifies as an Energy Star rated new house. This is critical because buzz words such as “green” are vague. Is a new housebuilder claiming to be green simply because he used energy-efficient light bulbs? Is it really “green” just because the house has insulation? While these are certainly good things, it does not make your new house “green.”

To be confident that your new home you’re looking at is actually energy friendly, look for the official “Energy Star” certification that is only given to qualified home.

Government guidelines at www.energystar.gov, identify the criteria a new house should meet to become Energy Star rated:

First, the new home must make use of quality insulation that is both installed and inspected correctly. Insulation should be used in the walls, floors and attics to ensure level temperatures throughout the house. This can drastically lower energy use and provide increased comfort in your home as it maintains level temperatures.

Next, the house should be constructed with tight construction and well fitted duct work. Small cracks and holes can allow cold air in and warm air to escape, greatly reducing the efficiency of your new house. An opening the size of a quarter can be a problem.

Third, the new house should use high efficiency windows with protective coatings and superior window frames. The goal here is to prevent cold air from coming in in the winter and to keep the heat out in the summer. A good UV coating on the windows also reduces fading of furniture, carpets and paint in your new home.

Fourth, only Energy Star appliances should be used in the house. These appliances use less electricity, oil and natural gas, and produce much less waste vs. their non-rated counterparts.

Fifth, Energy Star rated appliances should be used in the house, including lighting fixtures, compact fluorescent bulbs, fans, appliances, air conditioning, refrigeration, dishwashers and washing machines. The more energy efficient appliances you have, the greater your savings will be.

Finally, Energy Star builders can go through a third-party verification process to verify that the homes built meet these standards. This is done to ensure that builders are kept honest and deliver on their energy-efficient promises.

Craig Axelrod is one of the senior developers with Emmy Homes. Emmy is which is one of Long Island’s most established real estate developers. Emmy’s Commack development features luxury homes in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for details.